Efficacy of a rehabilitation program using minor muscles in colorectal cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy: preliminary study

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the common reasons that colorectal cancer patients cannot maintain their routine chemotherapy schedules. Some medications are used for pain relief; however, the effect of medication is disappointing. We carried out this study to confirm that a rehabilitation program using minor muscles might provide a valuable aid in symptom relief of CIPN.

Eleven colorectal cancer patients participated in the basic craftwork program which encouraged the use of the minor muscles of the hands to make and decorate the handicrafts and it was held for 2 hours once a week, for a total of four times. There were no limitations in the stage of cancer or types of chemotherapy to participate the program. Questionnaires were obtained from participants before and after the basic handicrafts program.

Of the 11 patients (3 men, 8 women; mean age, 53.0±11.2 years), six received 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy, four received FOLFOX4 (combination of 5-FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) chemotherapy, and one received 5-FU, FOLFOX4, and FOLFIRI (combination of 5-FU, leucovorin, and irinotecan) chemotherapy sequentially. Patients attended the program a mean of 3.8±0.4 times. Common symptoms of CIPN were "throbbing pain," "aching pain," and "numbness." The mean score of the questionnaires between pre- and post-program was 34.1±31.7 points and 24.4±21.5 points each, and it was significantly decreased (P=0.040).

Patients often suffered from CIPN symptoms like throbbing or aching pain and numbness during their adjuvant chemotherapy. A rehabilitation program using minor muscles for CIPN is expected to be effective.